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BALDER'S  DEATH 

AND 

LORE'S   PUNISHMENT 


BY 


CORNELIA  STEKETEE  HULST 


CHICAGO 

THE  OPEN  COURT  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1918 


THIS   WORK   IS  GRATEFULLY   DEDICATED 
TO 

The  Honorable  Rasmus  B.  Axdersox. 

His  "Norse  Mythology"  gave  the  first  impulse  to  its 
composition.  A  poet  at  heart,  he  interpreted  the  myths 
so  that  they  became  vital ;  himself  a  creative  scholar, 
he  freely  gave  his  interest  and  sympathy  to  this  work 
when  he  was  an  entire  stranger  to  the  author ;  a  most 
generous  and  stimulating  friend,  he  and  his  gracious 
wife  have  added  charm  and  glory  to  our  years  since 
they  have  known  us. 

C.  S.  H. 
GRAND  RAPIDS,  MICHIGAN. 


387539 


FOREWORD. 

IN  these  incidents  from  Northern  Mythology  it  has  been  my  intention  to  be 
true  to  the  version  presented  in  the  Eddas,  about  1000  A.  D.,  a  version 
which  is  poetically  consistent  and  which  takes  a  higher  flight,  particularly  in 
all  that  relates  to  Balder,  than  pagan  literature  in  general  does.  This  fact 
seems  to  be  owing  to  the  new  ideas  and  the  new  spirit  that  the  scalds  received 
through  Viking  contact  with  Christianity  in  the  South.  The  solution  here 
presented  for  "Balder's  Death"  was  worked  out  independently  from  facts  given 
in  the  Eddas,  to  accord  with  conditions  as  stated  and  to  ensure  poetic  justice ;  and 
this  solution  is  confirmed  by  Rydberg,  who  brought  a  wealth  of  medieval  learn- 
ing to  sustain  his  argument  in  his  "Teutonic  Mythology."  Bugge's  learned 
study  citing  Christian  literary  sources  that  probably  were  influential  in  form- 
ing the  Balder  myth  also  tends  to  confirm  this  solution.  The  descent  of  Balder 
into  Hell  and  his  coming  rule  in  the  Realm  of  the  Spirit  when  the  New  Heaven 
and  the  New  Earth  have  risen,  when  this  Heaven  and  this  Earth  pass  away, 
after  the  Twilight  of  the  Gods,  offers  the  only  consistent  and  adequate  solution, 
not  only  for  this  incident,  but  for  others  linked  to  it,  notably  the  epic  of  Sieg- 
fried and  Brunhilde,  which  even  in  Wagner's  version  is  not  complete  and  satis- 
fying. In  the  Icelandic  version  Siegfried  is  without  reproach,  and  Brunhild  in 
disobeying  Odin  obeys  a  higher  law,  so  both  merit  a  future  with  a  perfect  king 
in  a  heavenlier  Heaven  than  Odin's,  which  is  tainted  with  evil.  When  they 
go  to  Balder,  though  in  Hell,  it  will  now  be  seen  that  poetic  justice  is  satisfied; 
it  will  be  completely  satisfied  when  both  rise  with  Balder  into  his  New  Heaven 
after  Odin  and  the  evil  of  his  dispensation  have  been  swept  away. 

The  literary  form  of  these  poems  is  a  variety  of  Free  Verse,  but  they  were 
composed  mainly  before  1900  and  therefore  before  the  present  school  of  Free 
Verse  had  been  developed.  This  variety  was  evolved  under  the  influence  of  the 
alliterative  verse  of  the  Eddas  and  Beowulf,  but  was  an  unconscious  product, 
not  in  any  sense  an  imitation. 

The  illustrations  are  selected  from  the  rare  series  with  which  Frolich  illus- 
trated the  Eddas. 

May  the  good  and  the  beautiful  that  come  to  us  from  the  Past  never  die. 
and  may  the  victory  of  Balder  and  the  defeat  of  Odin  forever  inspire  us  with 
hope  and  courage. 

Mrs.  Henry  Hulst. 

Gladsheim.  Nov.  7,  1917. 


PERSONS. 

Odin — All-Father,  King  of  the  Asas  in  Asgard. 
Frigg — his  Queen,  mother  of  Balder. 

Balder — the  Good,  the  Just,  the  Asa  of  Light,  Father  of  Justice. 
X  a  x  x  a — his  wife. 
Hoder — the  Blind,  his  brother. 
Thor — the  Thunderer,  Asa  of  Battle. 
Tyr — the  Asa  of  War. 

Vidar — the  Silent  and  Ready,  the  recuperative  power  of  Nature. 
Vale — the  young  son  of  Odin  and  Rind  (the  Frozen-Earth). 
Brage — Asa  of  Song,  inspirer  of  the  Asas. 

Idun — Brage's  wife,  guardian  of  the  Apples  of  Youth  and  Strength. 
Hermod — the  Swift,  Messenger  of  the  Asas. 

Heimdal — guardian  of  Bifrost,  the  Rainbow-Bridge  that  leads  from  Earth  to 
Asgard. 

Loke — son  of  the  Jotun  Farbaute,  adopted  among  the  Asas,  but  later  a  foe  of 
Odin. 

Sigyn — his  wife,  an  Asa,  called  the  Tender  and  True,  deserted  by  Loke. 

Axgerboda — A  Jotun  witch  who  bodes  anguish,  wedded  by  Loke  when  he  de- 
serted Sigyn. 

Hel — daughter  of  Loke  and  Angerboda,  Queen  of  Hell,  the  Kingdom  of  the 
Lower  World. 

Fexrer — the  Wolf,  son  of  Loke  and  Angerboda. 

The  Midgard  Serpext — son  of  Loke  and  Angerboda. 


PALACES. 

Valhal — Odin's  Hall  of  Heroes  in  Asgard. 
Fensal — Frigg's  Palace  in  Asgard. 

Broadblink — Shining  Splendor,  Balder's  Palace.     It  is  built  in  Peace  Place, 
which  is  a  sanctuary. 

Gladsheim — the  gold  hall  of  Brage  and  Idun  in  the  Happy  Valley.     It  lies 

at  the  East. 
Anguish — Hel's  Palace  in  Niflhel. 
Gimle — the  Palace  in  Alfheim  where  Balder  will  reign  after  Ragnarok,  when 

the  New  Heaven  and  the  New  Earth  have  risen. 


ARGUMENT. 

THE  first  scene  of  this  story  is  in  the  Heaven  of  Norse  Mythol- 
ogy, or,  to  be  more  exact,  in  Asgard,  the  city  of  the  Asas ;  and 
the  characters  are  the  Asas,  the  Norse  gods,  whose  King  is  Odin. 
Asgard  must  be  imagined  as  a  golden  city,  not  only  paved  with 
gold  but  piled  with  gold  from  the  foundation  to  the  pinacles  of  its 
palaces.  It  is  a  wonderwork  of  the  most  skilful  of  the  giant  race, 
the  Jotuns,  who  were  once  friends  of  the  Asas  but  are  now  foes, 
alienated  by  rivalry  for  power  and  gold. 

In  the  scheme  of  the  Universe,  Asgard  lies  in  the  upper 
branches  of  the  Tree  of  Life,  where  it  rests  at  the  top  of  the  arch 
of  Bifrost,  the  Rainbow  Bridge,  by  which  the  Asas  descend  to 
earth  when  they  will,  riding  their  horses,  except  Thor,  who  is  so 
heavy  that  he  would  break  through  its  ethereal  substance.  As  far 
beneath  the  earth  as  Asgard  lies  above  it,  is  the  Lower  World, 
called  Hell,  or  Helheim  because  it  is  the  home  of  Queen  Hel.  a 
Jotun  whose  power  is  matched  with  Odin's  and  who  will  lead  her 
kindred  to  attack  him  in  Asgard  as  soon  as  she  is  able. 

Hel  is  the  daughter  of  Loke,  the  destructive  spirit  of  Fire. 

The  Golden  City  of  Asgard  shines  in  splendor  against  a  blue 
sky,  and  Odin,  its  king,  is  clad  in  a  regal  mantle  of  blue.  Among 
his  circle  he  is  kingly  indeed,  a  leader  in  battle,  triumphant  in 
single  combat,  astute  in  counsel,  and  a  loving  father  to  his  heroes. 
All-Father  is  the  name  with  which  they  chiefly  honor  him,  but  they 
add  many  other  names  in  honor  of  his  powers  and  exploits,  such 
as  the  Many-in-One,  Ygg  (the  Clear-Thinker),  and  the  Wayfarer. 
Odin's  sister,  Frigg,  is  also  his  wife,  and  as  Queen  of  Heaven  is 
justly  honored,  for  she  is  wise  and  good.  The  son  of  Odin  and 
Frigg  is  Balder,  the  best  loved  Asa  in  heaven.  Like  Odin,  Balder 
has  many  appropriate  names,  among  which  are  the  White  One,  the 
Peaceful,  and  the  Father  of  Justice,  for  his  palace  has  sheltered 
no  evil.  He  is  clothed  in  radiant  white,  and  rays  beam  about  him 
as  from  a  sun.     Balder  is  the  glory  of  heaven.     As  is  fit,  Nanna, 


2  r.AI.DKR'S  DEATH. 

his  wife,  is  like  him  though  lesser,  a  moon-white  Dis,  and  their 
union  is  the  most  perfect. 

The  nature  of  Loke  is  flame,  and  his  color  is  flame ;  but  Hel 
is  death-white,  and  her  heart  is  cold,  as  her  kingdom  lies  cold  in 
a  region  of  eternal  frost  and  snow.  Hel  is  the  most  powerful  of 
Loke's  evil  offspring.  Her  mother  is  no  less  hated,  a  Jotun  witch 
named  Angerboda,  because  she  bodes  anguish  to  all  of  her  friends 
as  well  as  her  foes.  This  circle  of  destructive  spirits,  including 
also  Hel's  terrible  brothers,  the  Midgard  Serpent  and  the  Fenris 
Wolf,  bide  their  time  to  conquer  both  Earth  and  Asgard,  muster- 
ing their  forces  in  the  Lower  World  and  in  the  Mirkwood,  where 
Angerboda's  wolf-sons  congregate.  At  Ragnarok,  the  World's 
Twilight,  they  will  issue  forth  for  the  final  struggle.  In  the  one 
great  conflict  that  they  have  so  far  had  with  Odin  for  the  rule  of 
the  world,  Odin  has  been  able  to  control  them,  casting  the  Serpent 
far  forth  into  the  sea,  binding  the  Wolf  Fenrer  to  a  rock  on  a 
distant  island,  Lyngve,  and  banishing  Hel  to  the  Lower  World, 
where  in  the  lowest  of  nine  gloomy  circles  she  established  her  throne, 
called  Despair.  Hers  is  a  sad,  loveless  kingdom,  and  she  is  the  cold 
sovereign  of  the  dead.  The  Weird  Norns  (Past,  Present,  and  Fu- 
ture), made  her  supreme  in  the  Lower  World,  and  gave  her  per- 
mission to  come  to  Earth  only  at  midnight  to  select  those  who  are 
to  belong  to  her.  Brave  warriors  are  chosen  by  the  Valkyrie,  Odin's 
War  Maidens,  to  be  taken  dying  from  the  battlefield  to  Valhal,  his 
Hall  of  Heroes  in  Asgard ;  but  those  who  are  cowards  or  who  die 
at  peace  are  taken  by  Hel. 

The  incidents  in  this  story  occur  shortly  after  the  Wolf  Fenrer 
has  been  bound,  when  Loke  and  Hel  have  been  balked  in  their 
purpose  to  capture  Asgard  by  means  of  Fenrer's  wonderful  strength. 
The  action  begins  on  one  of  Hel's  midnight  visits  to  Earth  to  give 
warning  to  those  whom  she  has  chosen  to  die. 


N 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 

OW  the  dusk  and  the  nightfall  were  early 
And  the  dawn  was  late  in  its  coming, 


Nature  gives    \n([  the  days  were  so  dark  that  at  noontide 

signs  that  fore-  ,         ,  ,.  •       it    n      1 

bode  disaster.  Deep  shadows  lay  brooding  in  Valhal — 

Strange  sights ;  and  strange  sounds  smote  the  hearing, 

Low  soughing  and  sighing  and  whispers. 

It  shook  the  hearts  of  the  hearers. 

Were  Hel  and  her  hordes  from  cold  Helheim 

Stealing  on  Asgard  in  darkness?. . .  . 

The  eyes  of  the  erewhile  calm  Asas 

Grew  gloomy,  and  heavy  their  hearts  were ; 

Sore  troubled,  they  tossed  on  their  couches. 

And,  the  first  time  in  Asgard,  one  midnight 

A  moaning  and  crying  awaked  them .... 

Fear  sucked  at  their  hearts  like  a  vampire.  . .  . 

Then  a  wailing  arose  in  Bright  Broadblink 

Whence  naught  but  joy's  sounds  had  e'er  issued ; 

And  shrill,  as  pine  shrieks  when  the  lightning 

Has  cleft  to  its  heart,  Balder  shrieked, 

And  the  ramparts  of  Asgard  echoed 

And  its  vaulting  re-echoed  his  shrieking. 

They  groped  their  way  through  the  dark, 
Baider's  ,\n(j  as  day  broke  in  Asgard  held  council 

dream.  , 

And  heard  Balder  s  dream, 
His  vision  of  evil  impending: 

"All  we  love,  all  we  hate  were  in  conflict ! 

The  Gulph  of  the  Nether  World  opened 

And  Hel  sought  her  lord.  . .  .to  dwell  with  her.  . .  . 

And  I  was  her  lord,  and  must  follow, 

For  Death  hurled  his  dart,  and  it  hit  me." 


4  liALDER'S  DEATH. 

And  Nanna,  his  spouse,  where  she  lav 
Nanna  pleads  with  her  flowerlike  face  on  Frigg's  bosom, 
His  mother's,  shuddered  and  sobbed 
Ere  she  spoke  in  accents  complaining, 
"Aye,  Hel  came  to  Asgard,  love-hungry ; 
She  sought  her  a  lord ....  she  craves  mine . 
Me  she  hates— O  Father!   O  Mother! 
King!  Frigg!  Help  our  Balder 
Or  Hel  will  yet  hale  him  to  Helheim!" 


THE  HEAVENLY  CITY. 

And  Frigg  answered,  comforting  Nanna. 
"Dear  child,  who  would  harm  our  good  Balder, 
Frigg's  answer.  Beloved  Light  of  the  Heavens? 

If  Hel  does  desire  him — oh,  surely 
She  never  will  find  one  to  slay  him. 
For  all  in  the  world  love  our  Balder!" 

But  still  Frigg  was  troubled  at  heart, 
Asking  why  was  his  slumber  afflicted 
With  dreams  that  foreboded  disaster  ; 
And  Nanna,  still  weeping,  repeated, 
"Hel  will  yet  hale  him  to  Helheim." 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 

Then  Odin,  the  wise,  the  Clear-Thinker, 
Odin  departs  who  loved  Balder  more  dearly  then  any 

to  learn  the         _  ,  ,        ,  ,   . 

future.  For  that  best  he  knew  his  son  s  nature, 

So  gentle  and  loving  and  peace-full, 
Arose  and  departed  in  silence. 

But  Frigg,  with  the  Asas  remaining, 
Frigg's  efforts  Took  oath  from  all  Nature  to  spare  him 

to  save  Balder.  _  ,        _  .  .  . 

So  that  Hel  could  hnd  nothing  to  slay  him. 
She  bound  land  and  water  with  oaths, 
And  gold,  and  silver,  and  iron, — 

All  metals,  all  earths,  all  plants 

That  are  growing  or  grown  on  the  earth, 

In  the  air  or  the  water;  all  birds, 

All  diseases,  all  reptiles,  all  creatures 

That  creep,  walk,  or  fly,  to  earth's  confines. 

And  again  there  was  joy  in  the  heavens, 
The  fears  of     \n^  a  marvel  it  was,  those  glad  days, 

the  Asas  are  iit-.ii 

relieved.  -I  o  see  how  all  nature  loved  Balder. 

They  gathered  a  circle  about  him 
And,  playful,  threw  missiles  upon  him 
In  their  sports  on  his  plain,  the  fair  Peace  Place 
And  great  was  the  honor  they  did  him, 
Hewing,  and  hacking,  and  hurling, 
Most  mighty,  most  skilful, — and  harmless. 
Darts  recoiled,  and  hard  flints  did  not  hurt  him ; 
Asa  blades  bit  not,  but  rebounded 
Though  keen  and  hero-like  wielded ; 
When  it  hurtled  forth  with  his  thunder, 
Thor's  Hammer  to  Trior's  hand  returned 
And  on  Balder  had  left  no  more  mark 
Than  an  arrow  when  cleaving  the  heavens 
Can  leave  on  the  air  it  has  parted. 
Frigg  smiled,  Nanna  laughed,  and  bright  Balder 
Forgot  his  dream  and  its  portent. 

But  Odin,  All-Father,  forgot  not, 
Odin  journeys  -\^0T  smjled,  as  he  rode  through  deep  valleys, 

totheVala         ^  ,.,,-,  ,      \T        , 

Descending  and  dark,  to  the  .North. 
Swiftly  his  steed  passed  the  landmarks, 


6  B  \LDER'S  DEATH. 

His  Sleipner,  fleet-footed  and  willing. 

Smiting  the  earth  till  it  trembled 

With  the  beat  of  his  feet,  rnne-enristed. 

For  nine  days  successive  down  Helway 

He  traveled,  by  bridges,  o'er  chasms 

And  wastes,  till  he  came  to  Hel's  kingdom ; 

And  never  he  stopped  or  turned  back 

Though  her  Hel-hounds  he  met,  slaughter-craving, 

Foam-flecked  and  blood-stained  and  gaping. 

That  bayed  as  he  passed, 

And  though  bands  of  the  Dead  hailed  him,  wailing. 

But  when  Hell-walls  loomed  black  through  the  darkness, 

With  towers  and  pinacles  beetling. 

And  heavy-barred  Hell-gates  denied  him — 

Would  he  force  them,  again  to  face  Hel  ? .  . .  . 

To  the  East  he  turned  Sleipner,  to  the  death-house 

Where  the  Yala,  a  seeress,  lay  buried. 

Three  times  he  circled  around  it. 
He  practices    Three  times  in  widening  circles, 

his  art  to  raise    ...  .  i  •  -r-. 

her  from  her    And  three  times  three,  chanting  Runes  ; 
grave.  Then,  facing  the  North,  a  spell 

He  pronounced,  most  potent,  compelling. 

Until,  in  her  grave,  Yala  wakened. 

And  rose  in  winding-sheet  swathed, 

And  uttered  unwilling, 

In  accents  grave-hollow,  death-husky: 

"My  grave  has  been  covered  with  snow  ; 
Vaia  speaks,     j^y  grave  has  been  beaten  with  rain  ; 
Upon  it  the  night-dews  have  fallen 
As  many  a  year  I  have  lain ; 
Pass  onward,  and  leave  me  in  quiet, 
Thou  stranger — What  is  thy  name. 
That  hast  wakened  my  ghost  in  its  grave?" 

And  Odin,  the  Many-in-One, 
Odin  deceives  Spoke  the  name  he  ever  is  named 

her  as  to  his     ^  .  .  .        ,        ,,_.        ^Tr       .  T 

name,  and       From  that  journey  forth  :    The  Wayfarer,  I, 
compels  her      Yeltam's  son ;  and  of  Hel  I  demand, 

to  answer.  .  «  ...  , 

And  these  benches  with  rings  overspread. 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


For  whom  is  Hcl's  banquet  prepared? 

For  whom  are  her  couches  o'erlaid? 

Speak,  Vala,  and  tell ; 

I  shall  bind  thee  with  runes,  that  thou  answer." 

"The  mead  that  stands  brewed  is  for  Balder — 
He  learns        Let  the  race  of  the  Asas  bewail  him! 

that  Balder 

must  die,         J\ow  thou  hast  compelled  me  to  speak  it, 
And  now  let  me  lay  me  to  rest." 


that  Hoder 
will  slay  him, 


ODIN  QUESTIONING  VALA. 
But  Odin:  "Speak,  Vala! 

I  shall  bind  thee  with  runes,  that  thou  answer, 
For  yet  I  must  learn  of  his  slayer." 
And  Vala: 

"Blind  Hoder  will  slay  him, 
Will  send  his  glorious  brother 
To  dwell  in  the  halls  of  dark  Helheim. 
Now  thou  hast  compelled  me  to  speak  it, 
And  now  let  me  lay  me  to  rest." 

But  Odin:  "Speak,  Vala! 

I  shall  bind  thee  with  runes,  that  thou  answer; 
Thou  still  must  reveal  me  the  vengeance 
That  any  may  wreak  on  his  slayer." 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


"Young  Vale  and  Vidar  the  'vengers 

Who  his  slayer  shall  slay. 

Now  thou  hast  compelled  me  to  speak  it, 


and  that 
Vidar  and 
Vale  will 

avenge  him;     And  now  let  me  lay  me  to  rest. 


And  Odin:  "Speak,  Vala ! 
but  when         The  Maidens,  three  Jotuns — " 
Odin  asks  con-  (Qf  the  Wise  Ones  he  questioned,  the  Weird 

cerning  the  _ 

Norns  OneS 

Who  weave  the  web  of  the  world, 
Urd,  and  Verdand',  and  Skuld, 
That-Has-Been,  That-Is,  and  That-Shall-Be) 


VTala  knows 
him  for  Odin, 
and  taunts 
him  with  his 
impotence. 


But  Yala  broke  forth  when  he  named  them, 
"Not  the  Wayfarer — Odin  ! 
Now  I  know! — thou  hast  tricked  me!.  . .  . 
Hel,  help !     I  appeal  to  Queen  Hel ! 
Go,  boast  of  thy  knowledge,  exulting! 
The  Norns  have  his  thread,  and  are  weaving- 
Can  thy  runes  cast  a  spell  upon  Skuld, 
Or  alter  a  thread  in  the  pattern 
That  Verdand'  is  weaving? 
Hel,  help  !     I  appeal  to  Queen  Hel ! 
To  her  the  Norns  gave  dark  Helheim, 
And  wanhope  is  thine  in  that  kingdom ! 
Henceforth  no  more  questions  I  answer 
Till  bondage  be  broken  at  Doom. 
I  sleep  till  the  sound  of  the  Trumpet." 

Then  Odin  withdrew  him  toward  Valhal, 
For  Vala  took  refuge  with  Hel. 
And,  again  for  nine  days,  to  the  South 
He  rode:  climbing  the  heights  of  his  city 
While  he  pondered  what  Vala  foretold. 


Loke,  dis- 
guised as  a 
maiden 


III. 

Now  Loke,  the  evil,  heard  laughter, 

As  he  lurked  at  the  portals  of  Asgard, 

And  in  his  fell  spirit  most  spiteful 

Were  the  tlioughts  and  the  feelings  that  wakened. 

Assuming  the  guise  of  a  maid 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 

That  is  free  from  all  guile,  to  Fensal, 
That  fairest  of  gold-halls,  he  came, 
Where  Frigg  sat  with  Nanna  in  converse : 
"Mother,  why  are  the  Asas  so  blithesome?" 


questions 
Frigg, 


VOLUSPA. 

His  tongue  that  asked  it  dripped  honey. 
The  Mother  of  Asas  made  answer, 
"Our  Balder  is  safe  from  Hel's  clutches; 
Creation  has  sworn  not  to  harm  him, 
The  air  and  the  earth  and  the  water, 


Ill 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


and  learns 
her  secret. 


All  life  that  is  in,  on,  or  under/' — 

The  honey-sweet  voice  interrupted. 

"What,  all  things  have  sworn  it?" 

"The  things  I  have  spoken  have  sworn  it, 

But  now  I  bethink  me,  a  thing 

That  is  growing  nor  on  earth,  nor  under, 

Nor  in  air  or  water,  nor  under, 

But,  sole  of  its  kind,  on  an  oak  tree — 

The  mistletoe  twig — hath  not  sworn  it ; 

But  weak  is  its  nature,  and  tender." 


He  seeks 
Balder,  to 
slay  him. 


Odin  returns 
to  Asgard,  re- 
joicing to 
hear  that  Bal- 
der is  still 
safe. 


Loke  had  what  he  sought,  and  went  forth 

Straightway  to  seek  mistletoe  growing. 

From  an  oak  tree  he  cut  it,  then  hied 

To  the  sports  of  the  Asas  in  Peace  Place, 

Balder's  broad,  smiling  Alead, 

Where  in  midst  of  the  Circle  stood  Balder, 

The  White,  white-browed  and  white  robed. 

Radiant,  beaming  around, 

While  about  him  flew  missiles,  played  weapons 

In  that  game  that  they  made  in  his  honor. 

And  as  each  play  failed  of  effect 

There  rose  shouts  and  applause  from  the  players 

So  loud  and  so  long  that  the  Wayfarer 

Nearing  the  portals  of  Asgard 

Heard,  and  rejoiced  that  he  heard, 

For  they  told  of  the  safety  of  Balder. 


Apart  from  the  Circle  stood  Ffoder, 
Loke  per-        The  Blind,  the  twin  brother  of  Balder. 
suadesHoder  The  smile  on  his  face  spoke  contentment 

to  throw  the         .  .  .  r-r.11 

mistletoe,        And  pride  in  the  prowess  ot  Balder. 
"And  why  do  you  not  honor  Balder, 
Hoder?"  said  Loke;  and  Hoder, 
"Because  I  am  blind,  and  unable." 
"Stand  forth,  then,  and  take  thou  this  missile 
And  hurl  with  thy  might;  I  will  guide  thee." 
And  Hoder,  to  honor  his  Balder, 
Put  forth  all  his  might,  and  the  mistletoe 

and  strikes      pjew  from  hjg  hand.  Death's  own  dart — 
And  pierced  Balder.  . .  . 


BALDKR'S  DEATH. 


11 


Balder's 
dream  is 
fulfilled. 


And  again  Balder  shrieked,  as  that  midnight, 
And  heaven  re-echoed  his  shrieking 
From  rampart  to  rampart  and  vaulting 
And  again  from  the  vault  to  the  ramparts, 
Through  the  Halls  of  the  Heavenly  City, 
To  Fensal,  where  Nanna  and  Frigg 
Were  weaving  their  wreaths,  and  to  Odin, 
Who  had  entered  the  gates  of  his  City. 


The  grief  in 
Asgard, 


Ah,  who  can  tell  of  their  grief ! 
Beyond  power  of  speech  was  their  sorrow, 
And  a  deathlike  stillness  fell  on  them 
As  still  Death  had  fallen  on  Balder. 
The  Heavenly  City  lay  hushed 
As  the  yard  where  the  dead  lie  entombed. 
But  when  dying — nay,  dead,  Balder  fell, 
There  rose  wailing  and  groans  from  the  Asas 
From  throats  that  were  strangers  to  weeping, 
From  heroes  of  godlike  endurance. 
of  \  idar,  Tyr,  Only  Vidar  stood  silent,  unshaken  ; 

Thor,  Vale,  J  ' 

Tyr  trembled ;  Thor  shook  like  an  aspen ; 

Young  Yale's  breast  heaved,  tempest-shaken, 

And  through  his  clenched  teeth  an  oath  rattled ; 

Apart  and  unheeded  stood  Hoder, 

His  face  as  a  ghost's  strayed  from  Helheim, 

His  blind  eyes  strained  as  if  seeing, 

His  white  lips  at  horrible  working, 

Form  tense,  hand  at  ear,  forward  bending. 

And  then  Father  Odin  descended, 

And  gathered  his  son  to  his  heart 

And  bemoaned  him : 


Hoder, 


and  Odin. 


"Oh  Balder,  my  Son,  my  Beloved, 
Odin's  lament.  Would  that  Weird  had  taken  thy  Father !' 
Full  gladly — my  life  for  thy  life — 
Take  it — Oh,  would  thou  mightst  take  it — ' 
Then  his  accents  were  lost  in  his  sobbing. 


And  when  Frigg  and  Nanna  together 
The  grief  of     Approached,  Balder's  wife  and  his  mother- 

Fnggand  r  r  . 

Nanna.  1  oo  sacred  their  sorrow, 

Draw  the  veil  and  gaze  not  upon  it.  . .  . 


12 


BALDER' S  DEATH. 


ransom;   but 
Thor  proposes 
war. 


At  last  Frigg  spoke :  "Who  will  go 
Frigg  advises   And  pray  Hel  to  take  ransom  for  Balder?" 
"Give  her  ransom?"  roared  Thor,  "Give  her 

Battle! 
1  reed  you,  storm  Hel  and  take  Balder  \ 
We  had  better  force  battle  to-day  than  wait  longer — 
First,  vengeance!    Who  was  the  slayer?" 
The  red  beard  shook  on  his  bosom ; 
From  'neath  brows  beetling  black  as  his  storm-clouds 
Light  leapt,  levin-red,  as  he  thundered. 
His  knuckles  gleamed  white 
As  he  tightened  his  hold  on  the  haft  of  his  hammer. 


Hoder  con- 
fesses his  act, 
and  tells  of 
Loke. 


Loke  pleads 
sanctuary 


and  escapes, 


Frigg  gives 
counsel, 


Then  Hoder  groped  forward,  bowed,  broken,- 
"I  give  myself  to  his  'vengers — 
This  hand  was  the  hand  that  slew  Balder — 
But  Loke's  the  voice — his  the  purpose." 
And  he  told  the  tale  of  the  slaying. 

The  Asas  started  for  Loke 

To  tear  him  to  pieces.    "Peace  Place!" 

Cried  Loke,  "This  is  Balder's  Peace, 

Where  violence  cannot  be  done 

But  vengeance  will  follow  the  doer." 

And  Nanna  pled,  "This  is  Balder's  Peace, 

Let  no  one  profane  it  with  vengeance." 

So  Loke  escaped. 

And  again  Thor  thundered,  "Storm  HelJieim 

And  rescue  our  Balder !" 

And  the  Asas  echoed,  "Storm  Hell !" 

And  forthwith  they  had  sworn  and  departed, 
But  that  Frigg  spoke,  calmly  and  sadly, 
"Nay,  Asas,  storm  Hell  not,  for  Helheim 
The  Norns  gave  to  Hel  till  the  Trumpet 
Shall  sound  on  the  morning  of  Doom — 
Ye  must  fail  if  ye  go — but  go  one 
And  offer  our  ransom  to  Hel." 


And  Hermod,  surnamed  the  Nimble, 
and  iiermod     Said,  "Frigg,  I  will  go  on  thy  mission," 
departs  on        And  odin  gave  fleet-footed  Sleipner 

the  mission,  .  * 

while  To  Hermod  departing  for  Hell. 


F, ALDER'S  DEATH  13 

Then  the  Asas  bore  Raider's  pale  form 
The  Asas  deck  Where  his  Ringhorn  lay,  greatest  of  vessels, 
sh7pfUneral      And  on  its  broad  deck  built  his  pyre 

Of  the  boughs  that  they  brought  from  the  forest ; 

And  there  each  laid  a  gift,  jewelled  armor, 

Rich  rings  and  broaches,  vast  riches, 

To  pile  on  his  breast  and  about  him. 

There  Odin,  bowed  and  sore  grieved, 

Laid  Draupner,  the  world's  wealth  and  increase, 
Odin  gives       His  ring-dropping-rings,  and  spoke  bitter: 

Draupner;  ^^  Earth  cease  tQ  bring  f  Qrfa  her  increase— 

Let  all  things  with  all  be  confounded.  . .  . 
Would  that  Time  itself  might  run  backward 
Or  stop  in  its  profitless  courses." 
FHgg,  her  car-  There  Frigg  laid  her  carpet  of  verdure 

grain™'3' tUe  That   ^^   ^    ^^   ^    ^^ 

The  yellow  grain  of  the  harvest. 


vision. 


And  through  the  still  watches  of  night 
Baider's  death-  when  Nanna  and  Frigg  sat  beside  him, 

watch  is  kept.     _,,,_,.  ,  •    , 

Sad  Sigyn  came  to  her  sister, 
The  sad  wife,  truest  and  tenderest, 
That  Loke  abandoned  in  Asgard 
To  wed  the  foul  witch  Angerboda  ; 
And  Sigyn  mourned  beside  Nanna 
For  the  wrong  Loke  did  to  her  Balder. 

And,  late,  Nanna  slumbered:  and  sweetly 
Nanna's  Peace  settled  upon  her  pale  features — 

A  white  flower  silvered  in  moonlight : 
And  speech  passed  her  lips,  to  a  Vision 
Addressed,  and  then  she  woke,  joyful : 
"Dear  Mother  and  Sister,  farewell ! 
Your  Nanna  may  go  to  her  Balder. 
Our  lives  were  so  closely  inwoven 
That  even  in  death  we  are  mated — 
Give  thanks  to  kind  Verdand',  the  weaver! 
Dear  Mother  and  Sister,  farewell!" 
And  again  Nanna  slept, 
And  thenceforth  did  Frigg  and  sad  Sigyn 
Keep  deathwatch  for  Nanna  and  Balder. 
And  when  his  great  pyre  was  built. 


14 


EALDER'S  DEATH. 


She  is  laid  be-  Qn  the  broad  deck  of  Ringhorn,  his  vessel, 

side  Balder  on  , 

his  pyre.  By  Balder  s  side  they  laid  Nanna, 

Till  the  solemn  rites  should  be  rendered 
If  Hermod  returned  from  his  Mission 
With  refusal  to  Asgard  from  Hel. 


Hermod's 
journey  to 
Hell. 


IV. 

In  the  meantime  fleet  Sleipner  sped  northward, 
And  never  he  stopped  or  turned  back 
As  he  galloped  through  valleys,  o'er  chasms, 
Save  once,  at  the  Bridge,  where  a  herald, 
Its  keeper,  called  "Hail !"  to  challenge 
His  passing.    "I  am  Hermod !    To  Hel 


He  enters 
Helheim 


HERMOD   DEPARTING   FOR   HELL. 

Is  my  mission,  for  Balder !" 

And  ready  reply  came,  "Pass  on ! 

It  was  over  this  Bridge  he  descended. 

God  speed  thee!     Greet  Balder!" 

And  again  vast  stretches  he  covered 

Till  the  Walls  and  the  Gates  rose,  of  Hell. 

"Hail  Hermod!  hail  Sleipner!"  said  Balder, 

And  drew  near  with  Nanna  to  Hermod 

To  fondle  the  steed,  as  in  Asgard 

Was  ever  his  wont .... 

But  when  he  seemed  to  embrace  them, 

His  arms,  they  were  naught  but  a  shadow ; 


BALDER'S  DEATH.  15 

And  a  shadow  was  Nanna,  and  shadows 
The  ghosts  that  swarmed  'round  them, 
Each  bearing  a  brand  on  its  forehead 
Of  Hel's,  the  slothful,  the  craven, 
The  wicked,  but  each  with  a  hope 
In  its  eyes,  and  a  light  as  in  Balder's, 
For  light  still  beamed  from  his  eyes 
And  a  halo  still  circled  his  body — 
Heaven's  Sun  midst  the  shadows  of  Hell ! 

"Hail,  Hermod!     Hail,  Sleipner!"  said  Balder, 
and  receives     "But  your  journey  to  Helheim  is  bootless, 

Balder's  mes-     _  ,  ,  •,  ■       tt 

sage  to  Asgard.  Save  that  you  may  bear  witness  in  Heaven 
When  homeward  you  carry  Hel's  message 
That  love  such  as  Nanna's  has  might 
Far  more  than  Hel's  hate,  e'en  in  Hell. 
Bitter  cruel  is  Hel,  and  unyielding — 
Accept  not,  believe  not  her  promise, 
For  hate  fills  her  heart  full  of  venom 
And  distrust  gnaws  her  vitals  with  anguish. 
Since  Nanna  has  come,  Hel  has  hidden 
In  Anguish,  her  palace  in  Xifhel, 
Where  she  lies  enraged  in  Despair, 
For  a  hope  that  she  trusted  has  failed  her — 
The  sight  of  love's  joy  is  Hel's  sorrow.  ..  . 
But  let  not  the  Mid-Earth  and  Asgard 
Grow    gloomy  as  Helheim  with  mourning. 
Charge  this  on  our  loved  ones,  returning, 
And  charge  them  to  comfort  each  other — 
And  charge  them  to  comfort  poor  Hoder ; 
Assure  him  I  love  him  as  ever, 
For  unwitting  he  slew  me.     Forgive  him, 
And  when  our  last  rites  ye  have  rendered 
Let  Nature  increase  and  be  joyous — 

Balder  returns  To  this  end  I  send  my  best  grave-gift 
Again  to  All-Father,  his  Draupner, 
His  ring-that-drops-riches." 
And  Nanna  added  her  grave  gifts : 
"To  Frigg  I  send  back  her  soft  carpet, 
May  flowers  blossom  upon  it ; 
And  to  India  give  back  her  gay  girdle, 
The  maid  with  the  waving  gold  tresses." 


16 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


Hermod's 
descent  to 
Nifhel, 


And  now  Hermod  continued  his  journey 

To  offer  Frigg's  ransom  to  Hel. 

Through  Slid  he  swam,  River  of  Venom, 

And  kingdom  and  kingdom  he  traversed 

Till  he  came  to  the  lowest  and  darkest, 

The  Ninth,  where  Hel  dwells  in  Anguish, 

Her  palace,  and  feasts  at  Famine, 

Her  banqueting-board,  and  rules 

From  Despair,  her  black  throne,  double  seated 

And  canopied,  waiting  a  mate — 

But  a  mate  will  there  never  be  found 

To  rule  in  that  kingdom  despairing, 

For  sole  of  her  kind  is  Queen  Hel. 


SLID,  RIVER  OF  VENOM. 


Delay,  her  man-servant,  led  him 
Across  her  threshold,  Abysm, 
And  her  maid-servant,  Slowness, 
Through  portals  and  aisles,  long  approaches, 
Led  him  thence  to  her  audience  room. 
When  Hel  beheld  Hermod  approaching 
and  ins  audi-    gjie  rose  from  her  couch,  her  hard  Care-Bed, 

ence  with  Hel. 

Where  rest  she  had  sought; 

She  ascended  Despair,  and,  haughty, 

She  spake  as  kings  speak  to  war  envoys. 

So  deathlike  her  presence,  so  grewsome, 

Hermod's  blood  curdled  cold,  but  he  hailed  her 


RALDER'S  DEATH. 


17 


Hermod's 
message, 


And  delivered  the  message  he  bore  her, 
His  eyes  fixed  unflinching-  upon  her. 
And  besought  her  send  Balder  and  Nanna 
To  Asgard,  and  herself  fix  their  ransom : 
"Of  the  Asas  choose  any,  our  greatest — 
So  dearly  we  love  him — choose  Hoder, 
Appropriate  mate."    But  Hel  shuddered. 


and  Hel's 
answer. 


Bold  Hermod  spoke  on : 

"It  is  better  for  thee  to  give  Balder, 

For  if  Balder  thou  keep  he'll  oppose  thee; 

And  all  Hell  will  love  him  and  hate  thee — 

And  Nanna's  he  is." — Did  Hel  whiten? 

Dead-cold  was   her  voice  as   she  answered, 

"But  does  all  Creation  love  Balder? 

If  all  in  the  world  of  the  living 

Will  weep  him,  take  Balder,  and  Nanna ; 

Should  any  refuse,  I  will  keep  him." 


All   things 
weep  for 
Balder 


The  very  ghosts  in  dark  Helheim 
Wailed  loud  when  they  heard  her ;  gentle 

Nanna 
Sobbed ;  and  fleet  Sleipner  and  Hermod 
Shed  tears  as  Hel's  message  they  bore 
Speeding  back  to  the  Mid-Earth  and  Asgard ; 
And  wherever  they  passed  Nature  wept, 
Hard  stones  wept,  and  metals,  and  plant  life ; 
The  mistletoe  wept,  and  the  oak-tree ; 
Wild  beasts  wept,  and  men,  and  the  Asas 
Who  held  funeral  feast  around  Ringhorn. 
And  when  they  carried  Hel's  message 
Wherever  space  stretched  through  Creation 
There  was  weeping  from  all  things  that  heard  it. 


except  old 
Thok, 


And  almost  the  Asas  had  hope 

That  fresh  color  had  flushed  his  pale  face 

And  that  Balder  was  rising  to  greet  them, 

When  a  hag  in  her  cave  they  espied, 

Evil  Thok,  an  old  ogress. 

"Oh  Thok,  weep  Balder  from  Helheim," 

They  prayed ;  but  Thok  answered, 

"With  dry  tears  of  Thok  will  weep  Balder! 


18 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


who  is  Loke 
disguised. 


Old  Thok  never  joyed  in  his  gladness — 

Let  Hel  keep  what  she  has  garnered !" 

She  was  gone,  and  the  echoes  repeated, 

"Hel  keep  what  she  has  garnered!" 

And  again,  "Keep  what  she  has  garnered !" 

And  again,  "She  has  garnered!"  and  "Garnered!' 

Then,  harshly,  a  laugh  without  mirth, 

A  screech  and  a  cackle — they  knew — 

"Loke's  laughter,  and  we  must  miss  Balder, 

For  Thok  is  Loke,  who  mocks  us." 


Hoder  asks 
for   death, 


When,  hopeless  and  silent,  at  sunset 

They  wended  their  way  back   to   Asgard 

And  gathered  again  at  the  seashore, 

One  met  them  who,  helpless, 

Awaited  their  coming,  blind  Hoder. 

"Oh,  warrior  brothers,"  he  prayed  them, 

"One  who  never  could  join  you  in  battle 

Begs  a  boon — do  ye  grant  it  in  pity ! 

Deal  me  death,  that  slew  Balder  beloved, 

And  in  Hell  let  me  join  him  to  comfort, 

For  he  loved  me,  and  loves,  though  I  slew  him. 

Then  slay  me,  and  let  me  lie  dead 

By  him  that  I  love.  .  .  .and  forgive.  . .  . 

Unwitting  I  slew  him.  .  .  .forgive!" 


The  plea  of  blind  Hoder  prevailed ; 
And  young  Vale  and  Vidar,  in  pity 
and  the  Vaia's  (That  thread  by  the  Weird  ( )nes  was  woven 

word  is  ful-  ' 

filled,  when      And  none  could  alter  that  pattern) 

his  breast  is     Deep-risted  his  breast  with  the  spear-point 

ristedbyVale    _.„    ,   .  .    .  ,  .     .       -r.    ,  , 

and  vidar.        till  his  spirit  passed,  to  join  Balder. 
So  atonement  he  made,  and  in  pity 
They  bore  him  dead  to  high   Ringhorn 
And  laid  him,  red-dyed,  beside  Balder, 
And  in  pity  they  wept  and  bewailed  him. 


And  when  the  Tide  had  arisen 
And  the  Deep  and  the  Distance  were  calling, 
Farewells  are    \  ]ast  t jme  they  bade  Balder  farewell ; 

spoken, 

Father  Odin  stooped  and  addressed  him, 


P.ALDER'S  DEATH. 


19 


And,  graving  a  mark  on  his  forehead, 

He  set  his  torch  to  the  pyre ; 

Then  the  winds  and  the  waves  took  high  Ringhorn, 

And,  flame-bound,  westward  it  drifted, 

Away — and  away — from  their  ken, 
and  the  ship     To  regions  whence  no  man  returneth. 
Ringhorn        y^ncj  none  saw  the  end,  nor  can  tell  it. 

drifts  out  with 

the  tide.  Surely,  that  was  the  float  fraught  most  precious 

Of  all,  in  time  past,  and  forever. 

And  when  it  had  passed  their  horizon 

And  Day  went,  and  Night  came,  blackshrouded, 


ODIN  WHISPERING  RUNES  TO  BALDER  DEAD. 


Odin's 
Farewell, 


and  resig- 
nation. 


Odin  spoke:  "Farewell,  we  must  miss  thee, 

Bright  son,  our  hope  and  our  joy! 

Now  the  Weird  Ones  have  swept  thee  to  Helheim. 

And  wise  is  Weird  with  a  Wisdom 

That  passeth  our  knowledge. 

Let  us  bow  our  heads  in  submission.  . .  . 

As  Weird  wills,  so  be  it ! 


20 


BALDER'S  DEATH. 


"Come,  Frigg;  come,  our  children, 
He  gives  hope  An(j  ]et  us  comfort  each  other. 

to  the  Asas,  . 

A  word  1  whispered  to  Balder 
And  a  sign  on  his  forehead  I  risted 
That  will  quell  hateful  Hel, 
A  wise  Word,  fateful  and  runic. 
The  knowledge  I  added  to  knowledge 
What  time  I  o'erhung  the  abysses 
To  assuage  the  rancor  of  hate 
And  turn  evil  against  the  ill-doer. 


and  foretells 

Balder's 

glory, 


His  attain- 
ment of  wis- 
dom, 


and  of  the 
Blessed, 


"Lo.  a  Vision  is  rising  before  me — 

Humbly  I  thank  thee,  thou  Weird  One ! — 

I  see  Him,  with  sight  that  is  certain .... 

And  not  Death,  but  Life  Everlasting, 

For  His  palace  has  sheltered  no  Evil ! 

That  Mead  that  Hel  brewed,  mingling  floods 

Of  all  Fountains  of  Life,  He  will  drink, 

And  all  Wisdom,  all  Good  will  be  His. 

And  the  Dead  that  in  love  drink  those  waters 

Are  His,  the  Redeemed  and  Blessed, 

For  that  Mead  when  they  drink  will  transfigure 

Their  ghosts,  and  new  bodies  will  clothe  them 

With  Strength  and  with  Beauty  immortal. 


His  victory 
over  Hel, 


and  his  king- 
dom of  Alf- 
heim. 


after 
Ragnarok. 


"Oh  Balder,  our  White  One,  our  Just, 

Though  I  gave  my  eye  to  buy  Wisdom — 

That  draught  of  the  flood  of  Urd's  Fountain — 

Thrice  wiser  art  thou  than  thy  Father! 

Hateful  Hel  can  never  subdue  Thee 

To  do  her  hard  bidding.  .  .  .her  Lord, 

Whom  she  chose — and  her  Master! 

And  when  the  Wrorld-Web  has  been  woven 

And  the  fiery  flames  of  Surt's  vengeance 

Have  climbed  from  Earth  to  high  Asgard, 

When  our  Green  Tree  has  sunk  in  gray  ashes, 

Lo,  thine  the  New  Earth,  the  New  Asgard, 

The  new  Dawn .  .  .   the  new  Realm  of  the  Spirit ! 

"Sustain  we  ourselves  and  each  other, 
And  keep  our  world  bright,  as  He  bade. 
While  we  wait  the  blare  of  the  Trumpet 
That  summons  Creation  to  Doom." 


BALDER'S  DEATH.  21 

So  Odin.     The  Asas  assented, 

And  long  as  they  sat  at  the  seashore 

They  spoke  of  those  dear  and  departed, 

Of  the  conquest  of  Hel,  and  the  Judgment, 

And  heard  Hermod  rehearse  of  his  journey — 

How  the  Dead,  even  then,  loved  their  Balder 

And  how  Hel  and  her  kingdom  they  hated. 


ARGUMENT. 

THIS  mythology  of  the  North  presents  a  triple  tragedy:  (1)  that 
of  Loke  and  his  kindred,  the  Jotuns;  (2)  that  of  Odin  and  his 
Circle  of  Asas  in  Asgard ;  and  (3)  that  of  Balder  and  those  who 
join  him  in  Hell.  Loke's  is  the  blackest  tragedy,  of  evil  done  and 
not  repented ;  Odin's  is  the  tragedy  of  evil  done  that  good  may  come 
of  it.  but  acknowledged  as  evil ;  and  Balder s,  the  tragedy  of  the 
good  and  the  just  and  the  peaceful  who  seem  to  be  overcome  by 
evil,  but  transcend  it  and  prevail  in  spirit. 

The  cycle  of  northern  myths,  then,  presents  a  world-theme, 
and  the  utilitarian  ethics  of  Odin  in  building  his  Circle  is  the  pro- 
voking cause  of  calamity  in  the  whole  series.  As  Rydberg  shows, 
even  while  the  immediate  object  for  which  Odin  does  evil  is  attained, 
evil  results  follow  and  develop,  until  at  Ragnarok  they  will  over- 
whelm him  and  his  Circle.  But  after  Ragnarok  Justice  will  prevail 
in  Balder's  Realm  of  the  Spirit. 

Before  he  is  caught  and  bound  by  the  Asas  Loke  has  plotted 
the  domination  of  the  world  by  his  evil  offspring,  the  Serpent,  the 
Wolf  and  Hel;  and  with  his  own  hand  he  has  slain  Balder,  the 
Lord  of  Light,  the  Father  of  Justice,  "whose  palace  has  sheltered 
no  evil."  But  bad  as  he  is,  this  devil  must  be  given  his  due.  If 
we  find  him  crafty  and  dishonest  in  his  dealings  with  the  Asas,  we 
must  admit  that  he  is  only  meeting  craft  with  craft,  and  bettering 
the  example ;  if  he  does  wrong  that  he  and  his  may  rule  Creation, 
he  is  imitating  Odin's  policy  for  his  Circle.  Loke  becomes  the 
personification  of  destructive  fire,  a  spirit  of  revenge,  but  was, 
until  he  was  perverted,  a  loved  spirit  of  warmth  and  brightness. 
From  his  own  point  of  view  he  is  more  sinned  against  than  sinning, 
for  Odin  has  tried  to  exterminate  the  Jotuns  in  order  to  ensure  his 
own  dominion,  and  where  he  did  not  destroy  Jotuns,  bribed  them 
or  enticed  them  to  turn  traitor  to  their  race  and  join  his.  Odin 
overreached  the  Jotuns,  and  stole  from  them,  that  he  might  add  to 
the  power  of  his  Circle,  thinking  it  his  manifest  destiny  to  prevail 


24  LORE'S  PUNISHMENT. 

because  he  had  the  chance.  It  is  entirely  fit  that  his  career  should 
end  at  Ragnarok  by  the  swords  of  all  whom  he  has  wronged,  the 
dwellers  at  the  ends  of  the  earth,  Jotunheim,  Muspelheim,  Elfheim, 
and  Hell.  When  all  of  Creation  has  been  purged  by  fire,  only 
Balder's  Realm  of  Justice  will  remain,  to  become  New  Heaven  and 
Xew  Earth.  In  poetic  justice,  the  race  of  Asas,  that  seemed  the 
fittest  to  survive,  goes  to  its  doom  because  it  has  done  all  manner  of 
injustice  to  gain  power  and  prevail.  So  perish  all  that  do  such 
deeds. 


LORE'S  PUNISHMENT. 


After  the 
death  of 
Balder,  Loke 
laughed  in 
spite 


TT  7  HEN  the  plot  of  that  evil  one,  Loke, 
V  V      Was  sped,  and  Balder  the  Bright 
Was  doomed  with  Hel  to  abide, 
While  o'er  Balder's  bale,  save   for  Thok, 
The  whole  world  wept, 
Thok's  self  was  Loke,  who  cackled 
With  laughter  and  ran  to  his  cavern 
Refusing  to  weep  for  Balder. 


and  fled  from 
the  Asas  in 
fear. 


That  laugh  was  the  last  of  his  misdeeds, 

For  then  Loke  knew  that  the  Asas 

Would  never  forgive,  and  he  fled  them. 

In  many  strange  guises  he  fled  them, — 

As  fly,  bird,  beast, 

As  fish  in  the  flood,  as  earth-elf ; 

And  still  as  he  fled,  still  transforming, 

Through  the  open  he  glided,  a-shrinking, 

Through  the  shadows  he  slunk,  a-skulking, 

And  ever  he  felt  in  his  hiding 

That  Odin's  eye  was  upon  him, 

And  ever  abandoned  his  cover 

To  wander  afresh. 


Without  the 
Apples  of 
Youth  and 
Strength,  he 
grew   aged. 


He  dared  not  return  to  green  Gladsheim 
To  visit  young  Idun  and  Brage 
And  eat  of  their  Apples  immortal, 
So  apace  old  age  crept  upon  him, 
The  fire  in  his  eye  burned  to  ashes, 
His  cheek  hung  wrinkled  and  withered, 
And  his  foot  dragged  heavy  and  languid. 
Very  many  the  fears  that  oppressed  him — 
Was  there  nowhere  a  soul  would  assist  him? 


26 


LORE'S  PUNISHMENT. 


Haunted  by 
fears,  and 
lonely, 


In  all  the  wide  world  was  no  creature 

A  friend,  for  all  he  had  injured 

And  now  of  all  must  be  fearful. 

When  he  swam  in  the  sea,  Jormungand, 

His  Serpent-son,  rose  up  and  hissed  him ; 

To  an  island  he  neared,  but  Fenrer, 

His  Wolf-son,  there  snarled 

When  he  saw  him  approach — 

He  hated  the  source  of  his  being ; 

In  a  cavernous  hillside  he  hid  him, 

But  the  Dwarf  Andvare  crawled  forth 

And  drove  him  away  with  deep  cursing 

For  wresting  from  him  that  Ring 

That  has  carried  gold's  curse  to  Earth's  kingdoms, 

"A  bane  to  the  bearer  shall  be, 

Bitter  grief  to  the  greedy  of  gold, 

Haunting  sorrow  to  all  tvho  possess 
Gold  weighted  zvith  zvrong." . . .  . 

How  many  and  many  have  sorrowed, 
And  alas !  how  many  will  sorrow 

Ere  that  curse  of  Andvare  shall  pass ! .  .  .  . 

And  when  as  a  hawk  Loke  soared. 

The  son  of  Thjasse,  the  Eagle, 

Remembering  young  Idun,  his  sister, 

That  Loke  led  forth  from  her  kindred 

With  her  casket  of  youth-giving  Apples — 

Them  the  skill  of  Thjasse  had  fashioned 

And  now  her  kindred  must  hunger 

While  her  foes  may  feast — 

Pursued  him  to  rend  him  in  pieces. 

So  wherever  he  went  some  old  deed 

That  was  done  in  spite  or  in  mischief 

Raised  its  head  like  a  snake's  head,  and  hissed  him, 

And  threatened  to  strike  him  and  sting  him. 

Almost  he  was  willing  to  perish, 
Or  to  seek  his  old  hag,  Angerboda, 
And  their  wolf-sons  that  lurk  in  the  forest 
Afar  in  the  North,  the  dun  Mirkwood — 
But  hate  was  the  tie  that  bound  them.  .  .  . 
And  Hel,  his  cold  daughter  in  Helheim — 
Her  he  fain  would  forget.... 
Not  only  he  hated he  dreaded. 


LORE'S   PUNISHMENT. 


27 


he  sought 
hiding  in 
Helway, 


where  he 
saw   his 
daughter 
Hel   coming. 


Grown  weary   with  wandering,  haunted. 

At  the  foot  of  a  rock  that  looks  northward 

He  hid  in  deep  shadow, 

Whence  downward  and  northward  leads  Helway, 

Bleak,  and  steep,  and  forbidding. 

There  never  a  living  thing  grows, 

Gray  lichens,  or  grasses,  or  mosses, 

But  hoar  frost  lies  white  in  the  moonshine. 

And  when,  muffled  close  in  her  mantle, 

Dark  Midnight  had  passed  on  her  mission, 

Hel's  hounds  came  a-baying  from  Helheim 

And  a  pale  form  rose  from  the  Deep 

That  he  knew,  as  a  dream,  in  his  slumber, 

For  Hel,  his  daughter,  his  tyrant, 

And  naught  he  could  do  to  escape  her.  . .  . 

His  heart  grew  cold  with  its  knowledge. 

It  was  then  for  the  first  time  he  feared  her, 

This  child  of  the  worst  in  his  being, 

Supreme  of  her  kind,  Queen  of  Evil.  . .  . 

That  thought  wrung  his  heart  with  foreboding — 

His  Queen,  to  himself  anguish-boding. 

Loke  struggled  to  rouse  him,  to  flee  her — 
Far  less  did  he  dread  the  wronged  Asas 
Than  Hel,  as  he  saw  her  ascending — 
But  slumber  still  held  him  in  bondage. 
For  Odin's  Rune  risted  in  aether 
Turned  evil  upon  the  ill-doer. 

And  Hel  came  still  closer,  and  closer, 
Till  the  cold  of  her  breath  blew  upon  him ; 
The  cold  of  her  hands  chilled  his  body ; 
Her  eyes,  cold-gleaming,  transfixed  him  ; 
And  her  voice  spoke,  coldly,  his  doom: 

"So  Loke  would  flee  me?     Fool,  Coward, 
and  received   And  author  of  what  he'll  not  look  on ! 
Nay,  yet  thou  shalt  pray  and  beseech  me 
To  take  thee  to  Hell  from  thy  torments ! 
This  thy  doom,  and  hope  not  to  escape  it: 

Hell  on  Earth,  Death  in  Life, — 

To  know  goodness  and  light,  but  still  hate  them; 

To  see  joy,  but  be  banished  forever; 


but  was  un- 
able to  flee 
her, 


28  LOKE'S  PUNISHMENT. 

To  live  in  the  world  of  the  living, 

But  still  without  power  to  injure; 

To  will  still  to  do,  but  lie  bound; 

To  suffer  in  sight  of  Heaven's  Asas, 

Enduring  their  scorn,  zvhile  the  pity 

Of  her  thou  hast  injured  protects  thee, — 

Hell  itself  has  no  pains  zvorse  than  thine  be, 

Aro  chains  like  the  chains  that  shall  bind  thee.  . 

Live,  languish,  agonize, 

Impotent,  vacant,  immortal — 

Nay,  look  not  for  end  to  thy  sorrozv — 

And  remember,  Loke,  remember, 

Wherever  thou  art,  thou  art  mine." 

And  Loke  moaned  as  he  listened, 
And  bitter  he  groaned  when  he  wakened, 
Though  the  evil  Queen  had  departed 
And  naught  he  beheld  but  bleak  Helway 
Downward  and  northward  extending, 
in  utter  An(j  naught  he  heard.  .  .  .   There  was  silence, 

A  stillness  that  throbbed  with  foreboding.... 

Alone  was  Loke,  so  lonely 

He  would  fain  have  kept  Hel  there  beside  him- 

Her  cursing  was  better  than  silence.  . .  . 

Alone  with  the  stars  and  the  heavens, 

And  the  stars  and  the  heavens  were  aching. 


ii. 

He  is  joined  gut  not  alone  to  remain, 
wife,  Sigyn.     For  before  the  first  flush  of  the  morn, 
In  the  hush  that  awaits  a  new  Dawn 
Slow  footsteps  approached  from  the  South, 
And  a  voice,  low  and  soft  as  a  wind-harp, 
Breathed,  "Loke,  Loke,  my  lord !" 
That  he  knew ;  then  a  presence  like  sunshine 
Illumined  the  place  of  his  hiding, 
Fair  Sigyn,  the  True  and  the  Tender, 
Whom  he  had  deserted  in  Asgard 
To  wed  the  foul  witch  Angerboda. 
•  Now  she  had  come  down   from  high  Asgard. 


LORE'S    PUNISHMENT  29 

Womanly,  motherly,  wifely; 

And  still,  if  Loke  had  loved — 

What  might  not  the  future  have  seen? 

For  she  knew  the  wrongs  he  had  done — 

And  she  knew  the  wrongs  he  had  suffered — 

She  would  have  found  }oy  in  forgiving. 

He  repulses     But  was  there  no  love  in  his  heart? 

her, 

Hateful  and  spiteful  and  vengeful 

Loke  answered.     He  hardened  his  heart 

And  accused  her,  suspicious, 

That  she  from  the  Asas  had  come 

To  betray  him,  to  bait  him ; 

And  so  he  reproached  and  reviled  her. 

And  Sigyn  looked  sadly  upon  him 

And  silently  bore  his  upbraiding ; 

And  with  him  she  stayed,  that  fair  goddess, 

Still  living  her  dream  of  devotion, 

Fulfilling  the  troth  that  she  plighted. 

And  still  she  had  hope. 

And  patiently  went  she  with  Loke 

When  later  he  hid  in  the  mountains, 

And  steadfastly  held  her  high  purpose. 

Sustaining  her  heart  in  its  sadness 

By  telling  it  o'er  the  sweet  tale 

Of  the  days  of  their  love,  in  far  Asgard. 

And  Loke  half  feared  her,  and  wondered 
but  finally       That  still  she  should  stay,  but  endured  it, 

suffers  her 

to  stay  with     i  hough  he  felt  her  presence  but  irksome, 
him  and  bring  And  he  suffered  her  summon  their  children, 

their  sons. 

The  wilful  Vare  and  rsare, 

Whom  she  loved  with  the  love  of  a  mother 

Though  they  tore  her  heart  with  unkindness. 

And  Loke,  too,  had  no  kindness 

From  them,  but  dread  and  dire  danger. 

For  his  sons  did  not  care  for  his  safety, 

But  under  the  vault  of  the  heavens, 

In  the  crystalline  light  of  the  Day  Star, 

They  threatened  and  shouted. 

Though  Odin  was  watching  on  Air  Throne. 

He  hves  in     jn  j-^g  long,  anxious  days  that  succeeded 

reti  eat,  ....  . 

Loke  sat  in  his  house  with  wide  windows 


30  LORE'S   PUNISHMENT. 

To  all  quarters  of  space,  whence  he  watched 

For  the  Asas  to  come  from  the  North, 

From  the  South,  from  the  East,  from  the  West, 

While  in  thought  he  did  over  the  deeds 

Of  his  life.     And  not  in  the  least 

Was  he  sad  for  the  wrongs  he  had  done, 

But  all  for  the  tricks  that  had  failed  him. 

And  those  long  anxious  days  was  he  busied 

In  netting  a  net,  cunning  meshes, 

That  seemed,  as  he  made  them,  a  symbol, 

His  life  and  the  lives  his  had  met, 

Intermingled  and  knotted  together. 

The  knots  were  the  deeds  he  had  done, 

For  each  knot  that  he  knotted  was  hard 

And  not  to  be  loosened.  . .  . 

Each  life  his  had  met  had  been  marred, 

And  was  not  to  be  mended. 

But  he  joyed  in  the  life  he  had  lived 

And  the  net  he  had  made,  as  he  pondered, 

And  so  intently  he  netted 

That  the  shouts  of  the  Asas  surprised  him, 

but  is  discov-  por  he  iia(j  forgotten  his  danger. 

Asas.  War-ready,  their  ranks  closed  upon  him — 

Wise  Odin,  strong  Thor,  calm  Tyr, 
Shining  Frey,  swift  Hermod,  white  Njord, 
And  Heimdal,  that  hated  him  ever — 
The  band  that  fills  Asgard  with  glory. 

With  shouts  hateful  Vare  and  Nare, 
His  sons         pjis  sons,  wished  him  ill 
danger.  And  mocked  their  old  father:  "Lo,  Loke, 

The  Asas !    What  youth,  and  what  splendor ! 

Such  the  gods  are,  but  thee!     Art  not  jealous? 

And  such  might  we  also  now  be 

But  for  thee,  thou  old  Jotun  and  wizard, 

Whom  we  hate — Alas,  for  our  birthright ! 

Flee?     Do,  but  they'll  catch  thee — 

And  may  they!" 

in. 

Loke  hides  in    \n(^  fjee  Loke  did,  wild  with  terror. 

the  guise  of       _  r       n  ,   .  ,         - 

a  salmon,        He  flung  his  net  to  the  nre 


LORE'S   PUNISHMENT 


31 


And  flew  to  the  Force,  in  whose  flood 
He  leaped  and  he  plunged,  in  the  guise 
Of  a  salmon,  so  seeking  escape. 
But  the  Asas  saw  him  and  knew  him, 
And  taking  a  net,  woven  meshes 
Like  his,  that  they  found  in  the  ashes, 
They  followed  him  down  in  the  water. 
Twice  he  sought  to  pass  to  the  ocean .... 
To  dive  under  the  net.  . .  .to  leap  over.  . .  . 
but  is  caught    But  they  caught  him,  strong  Thor  and  wise  Odin, 

in  the  Asas' 

net,  They  caught  him  and,  spite  his  guise,  held  him. 


and  is  bound 
to  the  rocks 
in  a  vallev. 


And  when  Loke's  struggle  was  over, 

And  he  lay  there,  no  longer  a  salmon, 

They  dragged  him  into  a  valley 

Where  ledges  of  rock  beetled  o'er  him 

And  mountain  crests  rose  and  enclosed  him 

That  the  heavens  themselves  scarce  could  see  him — 

Xone  save  Odin  when  seated  on  Air  Throne. 

And  there  to  three  rock-ribs  they  bound  him 

For  a  bed,  and  the  thongs  that  they  used 

(A  horror — he  scarce  could  endure  it!) 

Were  the  entrails  of  wolfish  Vare, 

His  son,  that  hated  and  mocked  his  old  father 

And  killed  and  devoured  his  brother. 


Loke  struggled,  and  groans  shook  his  body, 
He  struggles    Though  proudly  he  strove  to  control  him 
While  the  Asas  stood  by  looking  on  him. 
Then  a  Serpent  from  over  the  summit 
Came  to  torture  and  feast,  as  a  spider, 
When  a  fly  is  caught  in  its  meshes, 
Comes  to  play  with  it  struggling,  and  kill  it. 
But  so  fearful  the  play  of  the  lightning 
That  leaped  from  his  eyes  when  he  saw  it, 
So  piercing,  so  hunted,  so  blinding. 
And  so  fearful  those  serpent-eyes  stony 
That,  alike  fixed  in  terror,  they  gazed, 
The  Serpent  and  Loke,  bound  both 
By  a  spell  that  neither  can  break, 
And  binding  each  other  forever 
By  a  spell  that  neither  can  lessen. 


but  is  tor- 
tured by  a 
serpent 


32 


LOKE'S  PUNISHMENT. 


Prone  lay  the  snake. 

Its  thin  neck  stretching  down 

And  its  flat  head  depressed, 

Its  cleft  tongue  hanging  limp, 

Dropping  venom  distilled 

Where  Loke  lay  rigid  beneath  it. 

As  it  dropped,  drop  by  drop, 

It  encrusted  his  body,  and  burned, 

That  he  writhed  in  his  anguish 

And  fought  with  the  strength  of  his  godhead, 

While  the  Asas  stood  by,  and  derided. 


until   his 
pride  is 
broken. 


The  Asas 
torture  him 
with  taunts, 


Then  his  pain  broke  his  pride,  spite  of  Loke, 

Cries  of  agony  startled  the  mountains, 

And  backward  and  forward  they  hurtled 

Through  the  vales,  o'er  the  plains,  up  to  Asgard, 

And  down  to  the  nether  abysses. 

In  all  places  their  tidings  were  welcome 

That  the  days  of  his  misdeeds  were  done 

And  that  Loke  lay  helpless  and  harmless. 

The  wide  world  listened,  rejoicing,  it  seemed, 

And  with  mocking  and  laughter: 

"Thy  desert  now  thou  hast,  dost  thou  like  it?" 

Said  one,  and  "Could  we  but  do  so 

With  usury  we  would  repay  thee!" 

"Aye,  aye,"  cried  the  rest,  taunting  Loke. 

"Thy  chickens  come  home  to  their  roost 

With  their  broods;  count  them,  Loke!" 

"Thou  wert  wont  to  pour  vials  of  torments 

On  victims  in  sport.     Dost  remember? 

Now  ours  is  the  sport,  thine  the  torment ; 

And  remember  the  pain  of  thy  victims !" 

His  base  deeds  to  remembrance  they  brought 

In  wrath,  and  for  vengeance, 

To  requite  ill  with  ill  in  like  measure. 

For  so  it  seemed  good  to  the  Asas 

To  torture  their  prisoner,  Loke. 


but  his  wife,    To  all  save  his  sad-eved  wife  Sieyn. 

Sigyn,  in  J   .         .  S^ 

mercy  lo  her  tender  heart,  wise  in  sorrow, 

No  rejoicing  it  brought  that  Loke 
Must  sine;  that  terrible  son<r 


LORE'S   PUNISHMENT. 


33 


pleads  for 
him. 


reproaches 
the  Asas 
with   their 
own   wrong 
doing, 


In  torment,  but  she  pitied  his  pain, 
An  added  weight  to  the  woes 
Of  a  world  but  too  woful  without  it. 
Her  soul  was  sad  as  she  heard  them. 
Mourning  her  mood: 

"Oh  Father,  oh  brothers,  have  pity! 
Our  world  is  too  heavy  with  sorrow 
To  wring  one  cry  that  is  needless 
From  the  bitter  breast  of  a  captive, 
Long  bitter  with  wrongs  ye  inflicted 
On  those  dear  to  him,  as  his  kindred. 
Now  Loke  is  bound  and  harmless, 
And  Loke's  children  are  outcast, 
The  Wolf,  and  Hel.  and  the  Serpent. 


and  an- 
nounces  her 
purpose  to 


SIGYN,   LOKE   AND   THE    SERPENT. 

Enough  let  it  be  that  the  safety 
Of  Asgard  and  Earth  are  assured — 
The  brave  never  injure  the  helpless.  . .  . 
Leave  Loke  to  me,  give  your  blessing. 
And  perhaps,  some  day  in  the  Future — 
Perhaps — for  he  may  repent  him — 


stay  with  him.  Perhaps  I  may  bear  to  glad  Valhal 


34  LOKE'S  PUNISHMENT. 

A  word  for  peace  and  forgiveness. 
If  not — but  let  me  not  think  it — 
Still  here  will  I  stay, 
And  will  labor  to  lessen  his  anguish ; 
And  still  I  can  hope  for  a  whisper 
Of  love,  that  will  long  to  be  voiced 
When  it  wakens  to  life,  toward  one.  . .  . 
And  toward  all.  . .  . 
In  mercy  now  go ...  . 
I  will  bear  it!" 

The  Asas  were  touched  by  her  pleading, 

That  goddess'  so  sad  and  devoted ; 

The  laughter  died  from  their  voices, 

And  their  taunting,  scornful  and  biting, 

Lay  hushed  on  their  lips  into  silence. 

And  pity  entered  their  hearts 

For  Loke,  that  he  must  be  lorn 

Of  her  love,  that  his  heart  had  cast  from  him.  .  .  . 

And  awe  came  upon  them  at  Evil 

Itself.     Whence  came  it?     How  comes  it? 

Why  did  Loke  succumb? — and  why  they? 

For  they — they,  too,  were  infected. 

Each  knew  in  his  secret  soul 

Of  hopes  and  desires  and  deeds 

That  he  wished  he  need  not  remember ; 

And  it  softened  their  hearts  toward  Loke 

To  know  that  no  Asa  was  blameless, 

And  that  they  themselves  had  been  tempters. 

And  it  seemed  an  inscrutable  Other 

Moved  him  and  moved  them  divers  ways. 

Were  they  puppets  alike?  and  warped 

By  the  stuff  that  was  theirs  from  their  forebears? 

Thor  agrees    "Sigyn  is  right,"  Asa  Thor  spoke, 

with  her  °J  b      '  i 

words,  "Bound  is  Loke,  and  harmless, 

And  the  brave  never  injure  the  helpless!" 

IV. 

"Aye,  Sigyn  is  right,"  said  All-Father ; 
and  Odin  also.  "Now  that  Loke  is  bound  and  harmless, 
For  us  't  is  enough  that  the  safety 
Of  the  Heavens  and  the  Earth  are  assured. 


LORE'S   PUNISHMENT. 


35 


Odin  shows 
the  present 
perils   of 
Asgard 


And  bound  are  the  children  of  Loke, 

The  Serpent,  the  Wolf,  and  that  other, 

The  Queen  of  ravenous  Hell. 

Do  ye  see  the  shade  in  the  valley? 

It  is  spread  by  the  wings  of  the  Eagle ; 

Do  ye  hear  his  screaming  eerie  ? 

'T  is  Thjasse's  son  threatening  Asgard — 

Alas  for  our  Heavenly  City 

That  its  gold  must  be  weighted  with  wrong! 

Do  ye  hear  the  call  from  the  Sea-Stream 

Sucked  down  in  a  whirlpool?    The  Serpent. 

And  the  howl  of  the  Wolf?    T  is  wild  Fenrer. 

The  baying?     Hel's  hounds— Angerboda's. 

Ye  know  those  sounds  and  their  portents. 

Ye  know  the  mustering  foes 

To  be  met  in  the  Future  as  erewhile .... 

And  not  the  less  to  be  feared 

Because  they  give  evil  for  evil 

To  destroy  the  fair  world  that  we  fashioned 

By  seeking  advantage  from  theirs. 

It  was  I  for  myself  and  my  Circle — 

Was  it  well  ? .  . .  .  Was  it  well  ? 


and  reminds 
the  Asas  of 
their  vows  of 
brotherhood. 


He  compares 
life  to  the 
flight  of  a 
swallow. 


"Do  the  Norns  themselves  know  the  outcome, 
They  that  sit  at  the  roots  of  the  World-Tree 
And  weave  the  web  of  the  World-Life? 
Know  they  the  End  and  Beginning?.  . .  . 
Or  draw  they  the  threads  from  the  Unknown, 
And  toss  the  torn  shreds  to  the  Unknown  ? .  . .  . 
Ye  know  how,  late,  in  our  Valhal, 
In  winter,  since  Balder  is  dead, 
We  sat  at  our  tables,  heroes 
Eating  and  drinking,  and  singing 
The  hero-deeds  we  remembered, 
In  the  warmth  and  light  of  our  fires, 
While  without  all  was  hoarfrost  and   storm. 
Then  in  swam  a  swallow,  skimming 
From  one  wide  door  to  the  other. 
For  a  moment  he  circled,  he  twittered, 
Enjoying  the  warmth — 
Welcome  guest  with  feathers  at  banquet — 
And  then,  in  a  twinkling,  was  off, 


36 


LORE'S  PUNISH  MHXT. 


He  glories 
in  action 


and  urges  the 
Asas  to  action 


against  Hel 
and  her 
brood. 


He  rejoices 
in  Vala's 
prophecy  of 
the  kingdom 
of  Balder, 
and 


inspires  the 
Asas  to  meet 
Fate  as 
heroes. 


And  had  passed — from  Winter,  to  Winter.  . 

E'en  such,  methinks,  is  our  life. 

It  comes  from  no  man  knows  whence, 

It  goes  to  no  man  knows  whither. 

It  nutters  a  space,  and  in  it 

We  build  for  ourselves  and  our  Circle 

And  strive  to  do  action  heroic.  . .  . 

And  at  last  we  may  fail  of  our  purpose.  . .  . 

"But  ah !  the  glory  of  striving. 

The  joy  of  our  work  for  our  World's  Good! 

If  vanquished,  victors  it  leaves  us. 

Foes  surround  us,  and  we  must  endure  it. 

Foes  surround  us:  shall  Asas  surrender? 

Nay,  Asas,  life  is  a  Battle, 

The  day  of  the  Present  is  passing. 

The  darkness  is  coming,  Time's  flying ; 

Let  each  ere  he  die  do  the  deeds 

That  he  may,  and  rejoice  in  the  doing 

Though  he  know  not  the  end.  .  .  . 

Else  belong  he  to  Hel  and  her  sluggards. 

If  we  die,  as  the  Yala  foreshadowed. 

Let  us  die  dealing  death  for  our  Circle, 

To  Hel  and  to  hers ; 

And  after,  as  Vala  foreshadowed, 

When  the  Battle  that  Last  Day  is  ended 

Our  Balder,  the  Bright,  will  arise, 

For  his  Palace  has  sheltered  no  evil, 

The  Peaceful  and  White, — 

Him  our  souls  still  sigh  for  — 

And  Nanna  will  rise  from  dark  Helheim, 

And  the  same  World  will  rise  that  bred  us. 

But  refreshed  and  ever  renewed. 

As  Asgard  the  Golden  anew, 

But  higher,  more  splendid,  new  named, 

Wrill  rise  in  the  glorified  heavens, 

In  the  Land  of  Spirit  eternal.  . .  . 

"And  we — shall  we,  too,  spring  anew? 
We  know  not  and  we  need  not  to  know. 
And  Evil — will  it  spring  anew? 
We  know  not  and  we  need  not  to  know. 
Enough  that  to-day  is  our  own. 


LORE'S  PUNISHMENT.  37 

Let  us  gather  the  brave  to  our  banners 
And  trust  that  cause  to  wise  Skuld — 
To  a  hero  will  death  come  but  once.  . .  . 
Come  gather  about  me,  and  hear  me. 
I  will  rist  you  the  Rune  I  created 
What  time  I  o'erhung  the  Abysm. 
Touch  ye  each  the  hand  of  a  brother, 
Fix  your  eyes  on  Asgard  above  us, 
Lift  up  your  voices  in  union 
And  sing  the  New  Song  that  I  sung." 


He  rists  the      Then  Odin  the  mighty  Rune  risted 
inlTstrenJth?  That  gives  peace  and  strength  to  the  Asas, 
for  them,  \n£  together  they  chanted  his  verses, 

Brave  hearts! — the  song  they  will  sing 
When  he  leads  them  into  the  Battle 
sings  the         That  Last  Day,  in  the  Dusk  of  the  Nations. 
giTes  courage,  Rising  and   falling  like  breakers 

That  beat  on  the  sands  of  the  seashore 
It  sounded  under  their  shieldboards, 
And  deep,  like  the  roll  of  far  billows, 
Rolled  the  voice  of  All-Father  in  union. 


Then,  lifting  their  hands  over  Sigyn, 
and  finally       They  wended  their  way  from  the  valley, 
bTckVo'Tgard, Ascending  to  pinacled  Asgard; 

And  Loke,  the  wanton  and  Evil — 
Very  willingly  would  they  have  eased  him, 
But  Hel's  dread  curse  was  upon  him 
And  on  hers  she  must  work  out  her  will. 


leaving  sigyn  Alone  beside  Loke  stood  Sigyn. 
render°himt0    She  could  not  loose  him,  and  would  not, 
service  and      gut  sne  strove  to  lessen  his  anguish 

win  him  from      .  ,         _         ,  ,        ,   .      , 

vengeance        And  open  the  floodgates  by  kindness 
and  hate.         That  the  streams  of  his  love  might  start  flowing. 
A  cup  she  made,  joining  her  fingers, 
To  catch  the  withering  venom 
That  fell  from  the  fangs  of  the  Serpent, 


38 


LORE'S  PUNISHMENT. 


To  spill  it  or  ever  it  burned  him. 
So,  unsleeping,  his  pain  she  endures, 
In  the  glare  of  the  sun  in  the  summer, 
In  the  pinch  of  the  cold  in  the  winter, 
Through  the  watches  of  noon  and  of  midnight 
And  she  listens,  by  hope  still  sustained, 
Again  to-night,  and  forever, 
Till  he  whisper  that  Word. 

But  Loke  win   But  Loke  relents  not,  and  speaks  not, 
Save  when,  her  cup  overflowing 


THE  ASAS  ASCENDING  TO  ASGARD  OVER  BIFROST. 


And  the  venomous  drops  on  him  spilling 

And  rankling,  he  cries  aloud  and  he  curses, 

And  save  when,  at  midnight, 

When  the  stars  are  most  awful  in  heaven, 

The  howling  of  hounds  heralds  Hel. 

Then  he  moans  and  he  mutters,  by  turns 

Praying  Hel,  now  to  pass.  . .  .now  to  take  him. 


LORE'S   PUNISHMENT.  39 


though  sigyn    still  siie  listens  and  watches,  lone  Sigyn, 
That  Goddess  of  Sorrows ;  and  her  face 
Is  alight  with  a  passion  of  pity. 
Transfigured  by  self-abnegation 
And  unthanked  devotion — the  steadfast! 

But  who  shall  say  it  is  thankless? 
And  who  shall  say  it  is  useless? 
Still  Weird  will  go  as  it  will, 
until  Ragna-     Surely  Mercy  is  better  than  Vengeance, 

Mayhap  Love  will  prove  stronger  than  Justice 
And  Sigyn  win  Loke  from  Hel. 


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